Methods and apparatus for using multiple connection identifiers based on traffic requirements

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus related to scheduling and/or utilization of air link traffic resources are described. A peer to peer connection holds a set of multiple connection identifiers for a plurality of successive traffic slots. Corresponding to a particular traffic slot, each of the connection identifiers in the set of connection identifiers has a different priority. Short term traffic needs are considered in the use of the multiple connection identifiers being held. For example, a communications device, corresponding to a peer to peer connection which is associated with a plurality of connection identifiers having different priorities, considers the amount and/or latency requirements of data to be transmitted at any given time when selecting which connection identifier to use when transmitting a traffic transmission request for a traffic segment which is in contention.

FIELD

Various embodiments relate to wireless communications, and moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus for providing different levels ofpeer to peer communications resources through the use of connectionidentifiers.

BACKGROUND

Different connections in a wireless network may have different needs interms of: type of traffic to be communicated, amount of traffic tocommunicate, priority of the traffic to be communicated, latencyrequirements, and/or error rate tolerances. In addition, differentwireless terminals or users may have purchased different provisioningservice level plans from a service provider. Traffic loading conditionscan also be expected to vary over time and from one location to another.There is typically a fixed amount of air link resources in a localregion available to be scheduled for traffic signaling.

In a peer to peer communications network such as an ad-hoc network,where a centralized control node is not available to monitor activity,establish connections, and perform overall coordination, there is a needfor new and innovative methods and apparatus to support theidentification of regional activity and establish connections.

In a peer to peer communications network, where boundaries are notclearly defined, one would like to be able to reuse as much of thetraffic air link resources as possible in adjacent regions withoutcreating intolerable interference levels. In systems such as ad-hoc peerto peer networks, where there is no centralized scheduling node, itbecomes problematic to allocate air link resources, e.g., trafficchannel air link resources in an efficient manner.

Compounding the problem of the assignment of a traffic segment in alocal region to a particular connection, among which various connectionsconcurrently desire to use the same segment, is the problem thatdifferent connections may be associated with different resource needs.Allocating the same fixed amount of resources to each connection,whether it be control resources, e.g., traffic transmission requestresources, or traffic transmissions resources, e.g., traffic segments,is inefficient and wasteful.

Based on the above discussion, there is also a need for new and improvedmethods and apparatus for supporting differentiated qualities of servicein a wireless communications system, e.g., in an ad-hoc peer to peerwireless communications system in which scheduling decisions are made ina distributed manner.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus related to a wireless communications systemsupporting the association of multiple connection identifiers with asingle connection between a pair of wireless terminals are described.Such methods and apparatus are well suited for peer to peer wirelesscommunications systems, e.g., ad hoc peer to peer wirelesscommunications systems, wherein the assignment of connection identifiersand/or the scheduling of air link resources are performed in adistributed manner.

A connection, e.g., a peer to peer connection, may be, and sometimes is,associated with a plurality of connection identifies. The connection mayhold a set of connection identifiers for a plurality of successivetraffic slots. In one embodiment, corresponding to a particular trafficslot, each of the connection identifiers in the set of connectionidentifiers has a different priority. Short term traffic needs areconsidered in the use of the multiple connection identifiers being held.For example, a communications device, corresponding to a peer to peerconnection which is associated with a plurality of connectionidentifiers having different priorities, considers the amount and/orlatency requirements of data to be transmitted at any given time whenselecting which connection identifier to use when transmitting a traffictransmission request for a traffic segment which is in contention. Adevice, which has acquired multiple connection identifiers, doesn'tnecessarily use the highest priority one. Depending upon the traffic tobe transmitted a connection identifier with a lower priority may be usedeven though a connection identifier with a higher priority is available.

An exemplary method of operating a communications device having multipleconnection identifiers corresponding to a single connection, saidmultiple connection identifiers having different transmission resourcepriorities, comprises: selecting one of said multiple connectionidentifiers to use at a point in time based on current trafficcommunications requirements of said communications device; andtransmitting a traffic transmission request using a request resourcecorresponding to the selected connection identifier.

An exemplary communications device supporting having multiple connectionidentifiers corresponding to a single connection, said multipleconnection identifiers having different transmission resourcepriorities, comprises: a connection identifier selection module forselecting one of said multiple connection identifiers to use at a pointin time based on current traffic communications requirements of saidcommunications device; a traffic transmission request generation modulefor generating a traffic transmission request; a request resourceidentification module for identifying a request resource correspondingto the selected connection identifier; and a wireless transmitter modulefor transmitting the generated traffic transmission request using theidentified request resource corresponding to the selected connectionidentifier.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system,e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer wireless communications system, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring timingstructure, associated exemplary air link resources, and channelinformation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first deviceto communicate with a second device in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating exemplary connection identifier mappingto air link resources, and the mapping changes between successivetraffic slots in accordance with a hopping scheme.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device to communicate with a second communications devicein accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 comprising the combination of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B is a flowchartof an exemplary method of operating a first wireless communicationsdevice to communicate with a second wireless communications device.

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary first communications device, e.g., amobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is drawing illustrating various aspects of connection identifierassignment in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating acommunications device, e.g., a peer to peer communications device, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating acommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., amobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 comprising the combination of FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B and FIG. 13C,is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a communicationsdevice, e.g., a mobile wireless communications device supporting peer topeer communications, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring peer to peertiming structure used in some embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring peer to peertiming structure used in some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring peer to peertiming structure used in some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system 100,e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer wireless communications system, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary communications system100 includes a plurality of wireless terminals (peer to peer wirelessterminal A1 102, peer to peer wireless terminal A2 104, peer to peerwireless terminal B1 108, peer to peer wireless terminal B2 106, peer topeer wireless terminal N-1 105, . . . , peer to peer wireless terminal N1109). A wireless terminal may, and sometimes does, establish aconnection with another wireless terminal. One or more connectionidentifiers are associated with a connection between a pair of wirelessterminals. As illustrated in FIG. 1, WT A1 102 has a connection 110 withWT B1 108 and the connection 110 is associated with three connectionidentifiers (C₁, C₂, C₃). WT A2 104 has a connection 112 with WT B2 106,and the connection 112 is associated with a single connection identifier(C₄). At a different time different connections are established andmaintained between different pairs of wireless terminals. The number ofconnection identifiers associated with a specific pair of wirelessterminal having a connection, in some embodiments, varies over time.

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring timingstructure, exemplary air link resources and channel information. Thestructure of FIG. 2 may be applicable to the system of FIG. 1. Exemplarytiming structure 200 of FIG. 2 includes a discovery interval 204, apaging interval 206, and a traffic interval 208. During discoveryinterval 204 a peer to peer wireless terminal transmits a signal to makeknown its presence in the region, e.g., the peer to peer wirelessterminal transmits a beacon signal used for identification, and the peerto peer wireless terminal monitors for identification signals from otherpeer to peer devices in its vicinity, e.g., other peer to peer beaconsignals. In the discovery interval, a wireless terminal forms a list ofdiscovered other wireless terminals in its vicinity.

In paging interval 206 a wireless terminal may, and sometimes does,establish a connection with another wireless terminal with which itwould like to communicate traffic signals. In this exemplary embodimentduring the paging interval 206, information is communicated using pagingchannel 250. The paging channel 250 includes a quick paging sub-channelportion 254, a connection ID (CID) broadcast sub-channel portion 256, afull paging sub-channel portion 258 and a paging acknowledgementsub-channel portion 260.

Consider that exemplary WT A has discovered the presence of exemplary WTB during the discovery interval and that WT A seeks to communicatetraffic to WT B. WT A sends a paging request signal to WT B using quickpaging sub-channel 254 during an interval associated with quick paging.In some embodiments, the quick paging signal is a single tone signal,e.g., a single tone signal based on a discovery ID associated with WT B.

Then, in an interval associated with the CID broadcast sub-channel 256,both WT A and WT B monitor for connection ID signals from other wirelessterminals which have current active connections. For example, during theCID broadcast interval, every active connection being used broadcasts aconnection identifier. WT A and WT B which have been monitoring for thebroadcast CIDs, each prepare a list of CIDs which are in use and thenform a list of unused CIDs which are available. Since WT A and WT B areat different locations, and may be subjected to interference fromdifferent connections, the list of unused connection identifiers formedby WT A may, and sometimes does, differ from the list of unusedconnection identifiers that WT B forms. In some embodiments, connectionidentifiers are MAC identifiers.

WT A identifies a set of potential connection identifiers that it thinksmay be suitable for use with WT B. The set of potential connectionidentifiers includes identifiers which it determined to be unused basedon received signals from the CID broadcast. Then, WT A transmits asignal using the full paging sub-channel 258 during an intervalassociated with full paging, the transmitted signal communicating thegenerated set of potential connection identifiers. In some embodiments,the full paging signal also communicates information used in determininga number of connection identifiers which are to be associated with theconnection. In some such embodiments, the information used indetermining a number of connection identifiers is quality of serviceinformation. WT B receives the full paging signal from WT A, and forms aset of connection identifier which are to be associated with theconnection, members of the set of connection identifiers to beassociated with the connection being included in the set of potentialconnection identifiers communicated via the full paging signal and beingalso included in WT B's list of unused connection identifiers. Then, WTB generates a paging acknowledgment signal, conveying its list of one ormore connection identifiers to be associated with the connection, andtransmits the generated signal to WT A using the paging acknowledgmentsub-channel 260 during a paging acknowledgment sub-channel interval.

Traffic interval 208 includes a plurality of traffic slots (traffic slot1 210, traffic slot 2 212, . . . , traffic slot N 214). Traffic slot 1210 includes a traffic transmission request resource 216, a traffictransmission request response resource 218, a traffic data segmentresource 220 and a data acknowledgment resource 222. Active connectionidentifiers include, e.g., connection identifiers for which a CID signalwas broadcast using the CID broadcast sub-channel 256 and connectionidentifiers which were added via paging acknowledgement sub-channelsignaling 260. The active connection identifiers are utilized during thetraffic interval.

Each of the connection identifiers is associated with a portion oftraffic transmission request resource 216, e.g., an OFDM tone-symbol tobe used for signaling a request to transmit data using traffic datasegment resource. Each of the connection identifiers is associated witha portion of traffic transmission request response resource 218, e.g.,an OFDM tone-symbol to be used for signaling an RX echo signal, which isa positive response to a traffic transmission request. Traffic datasegment resource 220 is used to carry peer to peer user data trafficsignals for a connection, if the transmission request is granted andprovided the transmitting device decided not to yield the resource. Dataacknowledgement resource 222 is used to carry a traffic dataacknowledgment signal in response to traffic data communicated usingtraffic data segment resource 220.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first deviceto communicate with a second device in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment. The first device, wireless terminal A, is, e.g., a firstpeer to peer communications device and the second device, wirelessterminal B, is, e.g., a second peer to peer communications device, whereWT A and WT B are part of an ad hoc network.

Operation starts in step 302 where the first and second devices arepowered on and initialized. The first and second devices (WT A and WT B)synchronize in accordance with a recurring peer to peer timingstructure, e.g., the recurring timing structure of FIG. 2. The first andsecond devices (WT A and WT B) participate in discovery, and the firstdevice (WT A) recognizes that the second device (WT B) is in itsvicinity, while the second device (WT B) recognizes that the firstdevice (WT A) is in its vicinity. Consider that the first device (WT A)desires to page the second device (WT B) and establish an activeconnection. Operation proceeds from step 302 to step 304.

In step 304, the first device (WT A) signals the second device (WT B) byputting energy on a tone corresponding to WT B during quick paging.Consider that WT B recovers the signals and recognizes that it is beingpaged. Operation proceeds from step 304 to step 306.

In step 306, WT A and WT B listen during a connection identification(CID) broadcast for connection ID signals indicating CIDs which arecurrently in use. WT A and WT B each make a list of detected activeCIDs. Operation proceeds from step 306 to step 308. In step 308 WT A andWT B each create a list of unused connection IDs. WT A and WT B areaware of the set of designated CIDs. WT A forms its list of unused CIDsby removing its detected CIDs (of step 306) from the set of designatedCIDs. Similarly, WT B forms its list of unused CIDs by removing itsdetected CIDs (of step 306) from the set of designated CIDs. It shouldbe noted that WT A and WT B may, and sometimes does arrive at differentsets of unused CIDs, since WT A and WT B may be situated at differentlocations and detect different CID signals. Operation proceeds from step308 to step 310.

In step 310 WT A selects a set of suggested CIDs of which one or moremay be used for a connection between WT A and WT B, the selection beingfrom WT A's list of unused CIDs. For example, in step 308 WT A may haveformed a list identifying eight unused CIDs, and in step 310, WT A formsa list identifying at most 4 suggested CIDs from the 8 unused CIDs. Instep 310 the WT A generates a full paging interval signal to convey itslist of suggested CIDs for the connection between WT A and WT B. In someembodiments, QoS information is included with the list of suggested CIDsin the generated signal. Operation proceeds from step 310 to step 312.

In step 312, WT A transmits during a full paging interval the generatedlist of suggested CIDs, and optionally includes quality of serviceinformation which may indicate a desired use of multiple CIDs. Operationproceeds from step 312 to step 314.

In step 314, WT B receives the paging information transmitted by WT A instep 312. Then, in step 316, WT B selects one or more CIDs depending onthe QoS required from the suggested list of CIDs which has beencommunicated. The selected CIDs are CIDs which are included in both thesuggested list of CIDs from WT A and the list of unused CIDs which WT Bformed based on received broadcast CIDs detected by WT B during the CIDbroadcast interval. Operation proceeds from step 316 to step 318.

In step 318, WT B signals to WT A during a paging acknowledgmentinterval the one or more selected CIDs from step 316. WT B receives thepaging acknowledgment signal and identifies the one or more selectedCIDs to be used for the connection between WT A and WT B. Operationproceeds from step 318 to step 320.

In step 320, WT A and WT B determine mapping for a current traffic slotbetween CIDs and tones used for traffic transmission requests andtraffic transmission request responses, e.g., RX echos. The mappingbetween a connection identifier and request/request response resourcemay, and sometimes does, change from one traffic slot to the next, e.g.,in accordance with an implemented hopping pattern known to both WT A andWT B. This hopping provides diversity, e.g., increasing the likelihoodthat a transmission traffic request corresponding to a connectionidentifier will have an opportunity to transmit traffic during at leastone of the traffic slots in the traffic interval. Priorities areassociated with positions within the traffic transmission requestresource; therefore, moving a connection identifier to a differenttraffic transmission request resource tone-symbol from one traffic slotto another, in accordance with hopping, changes request priorities.Operation proceeds from step 320 to step 322.

In step 322 a first one of WT A and WT B transmits a traffictransmission request to a second one of WT A and WT B using the highestpriority request resource corresponding to the one or more selectedCIDs, said resource used for transmission being a tone in a set of timefrequency resources for the duration of an OFDM symbol transmission timeinterval. Operation proceeds from step 322 to step 324.

In step 324, the second one of WT A and WT B transmits an RX echo signalusing an air link resource in a traffic transmission request responseinterval which corresponds to the request resource. The decision totransmit an RX echo signal represents a decision to accept the receivedtraffic transmission request directed to the second one of WT A and WTB, which was transmitted in step 322. If the second one of WT A and WT Bhad instead decided not to accept the request, the second one of WTA andWT B would refrain from signaling an RX echo signal. Operation proceedsfrom step 324 to step 326.

In step 326, the first one of WT A and WT B, which has received thetransmitted RX echo of step 324, transmits data to the second one of WTA and WT B in the traffic slot, e.g., using traffic data segmentresource 220. Operation proceeds from step 326 to step 328

In step 328, the second one of WT A and WT B, sends an Acknowledgment inresponse to the received traffic data, e.g., using data ack resource222.

Note that flowchart 300 has been presented for the case where thedecision is to proceed with the establishment of a connection, selectionand agreement on one or more connection identifiers to use for theconnection is possible and occurs, and traffic transmissionrequest/response signals results in the communications of trafficsignals between the first and second wireless devices. Operation maydeviate from the positive results flowchart of FIG. 3 based on any of anumber of conditions, e.g., no connection identifiers are currentlyavailable, there is no overlap between WT A's list of unused connectionidentifiers and WT B's list of unused connection identifiers, the WTwhich would like to request a traffic transmission resource decides torefrain from sending a request, e.g., due to a higher priority requestwhich it detected. The WT which is intended to receive the traffictransmission signals decides to perform receiver yielding and not sendan RX echo, etc.

Steps 322 to 328, in some embodiments, are performed multiple times,e.g., corresponding to a plurality of traffic slots during which atleast one one of WT A and WT B desires to transmit traffic signals. Forexample, the same one or more CIDs signaled from WT B to WT A in step318 are to be used for the connection between WT A and WT B during aplurality of traffic slots, e.g., (traffic slot 1 210, traffic slot 2212, . . . , traffic slot N 214).

FIG. 4 is a drawing 400 illustrating exemplary connection identifiermapping to air link resources, and the mapping changes betweensuccessive traffic slots in accordance with a hopping scheme. In FIG. 4,one may assume that a connection, e.g., between peer to peer WT A andpeer to peer WT B has been established, e.g., during a paging interval,and that three connection identifiers (C₁, C₂, C₃) are now associatedwith the connection.

Drawing 402 illustrates an exemplary traffic slot 1 transmission requestresource which includes 16 OFDM tone-symbols, each tone-symbolassociated with a connection identifier in accordance with apredetermined mapping. Vertical axis 410 represents tone index, which inthis example, ranges from 0 to 3. Horizontal axis 412 represents OFDMsymbol index in the transmission request resource block 412, whichranges from 0 to 3. Note that low ranges of tone indexes and symbolindexes are being used for the purposes of illustration; however, theactual number of tones used and/or symbols used may be other than 4. Forexample, in one exemplary embodiment there are 256 distinct units, e.g.,OFDM tone-symbols available in a transmission request resource block tocarry requests, e.g., corresponding to 256 different MAC IDs.

In this example, each OFDM tone-symbol of the TX request resource isassociated with a different priority level. OFDM tone-symbolscorresponding to lower OFDM symbol indexes have higher priority thanOFDM tone-symbols corresponding to higher OFDM symbol indexes. For agive OFDM symbol index, an OFDM tone-symbol corresponding to a higherindex tone has higher priority than an OFDM tone-symbol corresponding toa lower index tone. OFDM tone-symbol 414 is the tone-symbol having thehighest request priority, while OFDM tone-symbol 416 is the tone-symbolhaving the lowest request priority.

In this example, there are three connection identifiers corresponding tothe connection between WT A and WT B, where connection identifier C₁ ismapped to OFDM tone-symbol 414, connection identifier C₂ is mapped toOFDM tone-symbol 420, and connection identifier C₃ is mapped to OFDMtone-symbol 422. It should be noted that of the three connectionidentifiers C₁ is associated with the highest priority, and therefore,if WT A decides to send a traffic transmission request to WT B fortraffic slot 1, WT A will use OFDM tone-symbol 414, as indicated by thecircle around C₁.

Drawing 404 illustrates an exemplary traffic slot 1 transmission requestresponse resource, e.g. an RX echo resource, which includes 16 OFDMtone-symbols, each tone-symbol associated with a connection identifierin accordance with a predetermined mapping. Vertical axis 424 representstone index, which in this example, ranges from 0 to 3. Horizontal axis426 represents OFDM symbol index in the transmission request responseresource block, which ranges from 0 to 3.

In this example, there are three connection identifiers corresponding tothe connection between WT A and WT B, where connection identifier C₁ ismapped to OFDM tone-symbol 428, connection identifier C₂ is mapped toOFDM tone-symbol 430, and connection identifier C₃ is mapped to OFDMtone-symbol 432, which are designated to be used to transmit requestresponse signals, e.g., an RX echo signal from WT B to WT A. Forexample, consider that WT A has transmitted a traffic transmissionrequest on resource 414 (associated with connection identifier C₁), thenWT B, if it decides to acquiesce to the request, transmits a RX echosignal on OFDM tone-symbol 428 (associated with connection identifierC₁).

Drawing 406 illustrates an exemplary traffic slot 2 transmission requestresource which includes 16 OFDM tone-symbols, each tone-symbolassociated with a connection identifier in accordance with apredetermined mapping. Vertical axis 440 represents tone index, which inthis example, ranges from 0 to 3. Horizontal axis 442 represents OFDMsymbol index in the transmission request resource block, which rangesfrom 0 to 3. Note that low ranges of tone indexes and symbol indexes arebeing used for the purposes of illustration; however, the actual numberof tones used and/or symbols used may be other than 4. In this example,each OFDM tone-symbol of the TX request resource is associated with adifferent priority level. OFDM tone-symbols corresponding to lower OFDMsymbol indexes have higher priority than OFDM tone-symbols correspondingto higher OFDM symbol indexes. For a given OFDM symbol index, an OFDMtone-symbol corresponding to a higher index tone has higher prioritythan an OFDM tone-symbol corresponding to a lower index tone. OFDMtone-symbol 444 is the tone-symbol having the highest request priority,while OFDM tone-symbol 446 is the tone-symbol having the lowest requestpriority.

In this example, there are three connection identifiers corresponding tothe connection between WT A and WT B, where connection identifier C₁ ismapped to OFDM tone-symbol 450, connection identifier C₂ is mapped toOFDM tone-symbol 448, and connection identifier C₃ is mapped to OFDMtone-symbol 452. It should be noted that of the three connectionidentifiers C₂ is associated with the highest priority, and therefore,if WT A decides to send a traffic transmission request to WT B fortraffic slot 2, WT A will use OFDM tone-symbol 448, as indicated by thecircle around C₂.

Drawing 408 illustrates an exemplary traffic slot 2 transmission requestresponse resource, e.g. an RX echo resource, which includes 16 OFDMtone-symbols, each tone-symbol associated with a connection identifierin accordance with a predetermined mapping. Vertical axis 454 representstone index, which in this example, ranges from 0 to 3. Horizontal axis456 represents OFDM symbol index in the transmission request responseresource block, which ranges from 0 to 3.

In this example, there are three connection identifiers corresponding tothe connection between WT A and WT B, where connection identifier C₁ ismapped to OFDM tone-symbol 460, connection identifier C₂ is mapped toOFDM tone-symbol 458, and connection identifier C₃ is mapped to OFDMtone-symbol 462, which are designated to be used to transmit requestresponse signals, e.g., an RX echo signal from WT B to WT A. Forexample, consider that WT A has transmitted a traffic transmissionrequest on resource 448 (associated with connection identifier C₂), thenWT B, if it decides to acquiesce to the request, transmits a RX echosignal on OFDM tone-symbol 458 (associated with connection identifierC₂).

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device to communicate with a second communications devicein accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The first and secondcommunications devices are, e.g., peer to peer communications devices,in an ad-hoc peer to peer communications network. Operation of theexemplary method starts in step 502, where the first communicationsdevice is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step 504.

In step 504, the first communications device monitors a connectionidentifier broadcast interval to identify unused connection identifiers.Operation proceeds from step 504 to step 506.

In step 506 the first communications device transmits a set of availableconnection identifiers from the identified unused connection identifiersto the second device. Then, in step 508 the first device receives fromthe second device a subset of the transmitted set of availableconnection identifiers, the subset of connection identifiers includingidentifiers to be used for a communications connection between the firstand second devices. In some embodiments, the connection is abi-directional connection. The received subset may, and sometimes does,include multiple connection identifiers corresponding to a singlecommunications link between the first and second devices. In someembodiments, different traffic transmission resources are associatedwith different connection identifiers, the different traffictransmission resources having different priorities. In some embodiments,transmission request resources are tone-symbols in a set oftime-frequency resources. Operation proceeds form step 508 to step 510.

In step 510 the first device uses a connection identifier in thereceived subset to communicate with the second device. Step 510 includessub-steps 512, 514 and 516. In sub-step 512 the first device transmits atraffic transmission request to the second device using the highestpriority traffic transmission request resource which corresponds to oneof the received subset of multiple connection identifiers. Operationproceeds from step 512 to step 514. In step 514 the first devicereceives a transmission request echo from the second device on atransmission request echo resource corresponding to the traffictransmission resource used to transmit the traffic transmission request.Then, in step 516 the first device transmits data to the second deviceduring a traffic interval corresponding to the transmitted trafficrequest. Operation proceeds from step 510 to step 518.

In step 518 the first device determines a new mapping of transmissionrequest resources to connection identifiers. Then, in step 520 the firstdevice transmits another traffic transmission request to the seconddevice using the highest priority traffic transmission resource whichcorresponds to one of the received subset of multiple connectionidentifiers as determined during the mapping operation.

FIG. 6 comprising the combination of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B is a flowchart600 of an exemplary method of operating a first wireless communicationsdevice to communicate with a second wireless communications device. Thefirst and second wireless communications devices are, e.g., peer to peercommunications devices in an ad-hoc network following a recurring peerto peer timing structure in the network. Operation starts in step 602,where the first communications device is powered on and initialized andproceeds to step 604. In step 604, the first communications devicemonitors a connection identifier broadcast interval to identify unusedconnection identifiers. Step 604 includes sub-step 606 in which thefirst device forms a list of unused connection identifiers. Operationproceeds from step 604 to step 608.

In step 608 the first communications device makes a decision as towhether it desires to communicate with a second communications device.If the first device does not wish to communicate with a second device,then, operation proceeds from step 608 via connecting node A 609 to step604 for monitoring during the next connection identifier broadcastinterval. However, if the first device wishes to communicate with thesecond device, then operation proceeds from step 608 to step 610.

In step 610, the first device transmits a set of available connectionidentifiers, from the list of identified unused connection identifiers,to the second device. Then, in step 612, the first communications devicemonitors to receive a response from the second device. Step 612includes, at times, sub-step 614, in which the first communicationsdevice receives from the second device a subset of the transmitted setof available connection identifiers, said subset of connectionidentifiers including identifiers to be used for a communicationsconnection between the first and second devices. In some embodiments,the connection is a bi-directional connection. In some embodiments, thereceived subset may, and sometimes does, include multiple connectionidentifiers corresponding to a single communications link between thefirst and second devices. In various embodiments, different traffictransmission resources are associated with different connectionidentifiers, and the different traffic transmission resources havedifferent priorities. Operation proceeds from step 612 to step 616.

In step 616 the first communications device determines if a response wasreceived from the second device. If a response was not received, thenoperation proceeds from step 616 via connecting node A 609 to step 604where the first communications device monitors during the nextconnection identifier broadcast interval. However, in step 616 if thefirst communications device determines that a response was received fromthe second device, then operation proceeds from step 616 to step 618.

In step 618, the first device selects a connection identifier includedin the received subset to communicate with the second device. Theselected connection identifier is subsequently used to communicate withthe second device, e.g., in steps 624, 626 and/or 632. In someembodiments, the connection identifier which is selected, is selected asa function of priority information and corresponds to the highestpriority traffic transmission resource of the received subset ofmultiple connection identifiers. Operation proceeds from step 618 viaconnecting node B 619 to step 620. In step 620, the first communicationsdevice identifies a set of traffic transmission resources correspondingto the selected connection identifier, e.g., a transmission requestresource, a transmission request response resource and a traffic segmentresource. In some embodiments, different traffic transmission resourcesare associated with different connection identifiers, the differenttraffic transmission resources having different priorities. In someembodiments, transmission request resources are tone-symbols in a set oftime-frequency resources. In some embodiments, step 620 includessub-step 622. In sub-step 622 the first communications device usescurrent time index information in a recurring timing structure indetermining connection identifier to transmission request resourcemapping information. Thus mapping of transmission request resources toconnection identifiers, in some embodiments, change over time, e.g., toprovide diversity.

Operation proceeds from step 620 to step 624. In step 624 the firstdevice transmits a traffic transmission request to the second deviceusing the traffic transmission request resource corresponding to theselected connection identifier. Then, in step 626 the firstcommunications device monitors to receive a response to the transmittedtraffic transmission request from the second device. Step 626 may, andsometimes does, include sub-step 628. In sub-step 628 the firstcommunications device receives a transmission request echo from thesecond device on a transmission request response resource correspondingto the traffic transmission request resource used to transmit thetraffic transmission request. Operation proceeds from step 626 to step630.

In step 630 the first communications device determines if an RX echosignal was received from the second communications device, e.g.,communicating a positive response to the traffic transmission request.If an RX echo signal was not received, then operation proceeds from step630 via connecting node A 609 to step 604 for monitoring during the nextconnection identifier broadcast interval. However, if an RX echo signalwas received, then operation proceeds from step 630 to step 632, inwhich the first communications device transmits data to second deviceduring a traffic interval corresponding to the transmitted trafficrequest. Operation proceeds from step 632 via connecting node A 609 tostep 604.

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary first communications device, e.g., amobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary first communications device 700 includesa wireless receiver module 702, a wireless transmitter module 704, userI/O devices 708, a processor 706, and memory 710 coupled together via abus 712 over which the various elements may interchange data andinformation.

Memory 710 includes routines 718 and data/information 720. The processor706, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines 718 and uses thedata/information 720 in memory 710 to control the operation of thecommunications device 700 and implement methods, e.g., the method offlowchart 300 of FIG. 3, the method of flowchart 500 of FIG. 5 or themethod of flowchart 600 of FIG. 6.

Wireless receiver module 702, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceive antenna 714 via which the communications device 700 receivessignals from other peer to peer communications devices. Received signalsinclude, e.g., connection identifier usage signals, e.g., signals 744and 746, connection availability response signals, e.g., signal 752, andtransmission request response signals, e.g., signal 764.

Wireless transmitter module 704, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 716 via which the communications device 700transmits signals to other peer to communications devices. In someembodiments, the same antenna is used for the receiver and thetransmitter. Transmitted signals include connection availabilitysignals, e.g., signal 750, traffic transmission request signals, e.g.,signal 762, and traffic signals, e.g., signal 766.

Routines 718 include a communications routine 722 and wireless terminalcontrol routines 724. The communications routine 722 implements thevarious communications protocols used by the communications device 700.The wireless terminal control routines 724 include a connectionidentifier monitoring module 726, a connection availability signalgeneration module 728, a connection availability response signalrecovery module 730, a peer communications control module 732, a traffictransmission request signal generation module 734, a resource selectionmodule 736, a request response monitoring module 738, a traffic datacontrol module 740 and a connection identifier to transmission resourcemapping module 742.

Data/information includes a plurality of detected signals correspondingto unavailable connection identifiers (detected signal corresponding toa first unavailable connection identifier 744, . . . , detected signalcorresponding to an Nth unavailable connection identifier 746), a listof determined unused connection identifiers 748, a generated availableconnection identifier set signal 750, a received signal conveyingavailable connection identifier subset information 752, a recoveredsubset of available connection identifiers 754, a determined highestpriority resource 756, a selected connection identifier 758, informationidentifying resources corresponding to the selected identifier 760, agenerated traffic transmission request signal 762, a received RX echosignal 764, and a generated traffic signal 766. Data/information 720also includes information associating traffic transmission resourceswith connection identifiers 782 and timing/frequency structureinformation 768. The timing frequency structure information 768 includesinformation corresponding to a plurality of intervals in a recurringtiming structure (slot 1 information 770, . . . , slot N information772). Slot 1 information 770 includes connection ID broadcast intervalinformation 774, connection ID handshaking interval information 776, TXrequest/response interval information 780 and traffic data intervalinformation 780. In some embodiments, the slot 1 information 770includes information identifying and/or defining multiple TXrequest/response/traffic data interval sets corresponding to a singleconnection ID broadcast interval/connection ID handshaking intervalpair. Thus established and agreed upon connection IDs are, in such anembodiment, used for multiple successive traffic slots in a trafficinterval.

Connection identifier monitoring module 726 detects signals receivedduring a connection identifier broadcast interval and determines unusedconnection identifiers. Connection identifier monitoring module 726determines a set of available connection identifiers includingconnection identifiers indicated by signals received during theconnection identifier broadcast interval to be unused connectionidentifiers. Detected signal corresponding to first unavailableconnection identifier 744 and detected signal corresponding to Nunavailable connection identifier are signal detected by connectionidentifier monitoring module 726 while list of determined unusedconnection identifiers 748 is an output of connection identifiermonitoring module 726.

Connection availability signal generation module 728 generates a signalconveying information identifying a set of available connectionidentifiers. List of determined unused connection identifiers 748 is aninput to connection availability signal generation module 728 whilegenerated available connection identifier set signal 750 is an output ofmodule 728.

Connection availability response signal recovery module 730 identifiersa subset of available connection identifiers from a signal received fromthe communications device to which the generated available connectionidentifier set signal was communicated. Received signal conveyingavailable connection identifier subset 752 is an input to connectionavailability response signal recovery module 730, while recovered subsetof available connection identifiers 754 is an output of module 730. Invarious embodiments, the subset includes, at times, multiple connectionidentifiers corresponding to a single communications link between thefirst communications device and a second communications device.

Peer communications control module 732 uses a connection identifierincluded in the received subset identified by information 754 tocommunicate with a second device, e.g., the device which transmitted thesubset, over a connection. In various embodiments, the connection is abi-directional connection.

Resource selection module 736 selects to use the highest prioritytraffic transmission resource which corresponds to one of the receivedsubset of multiple connection identifiers. For example, each of theconnection identifiers of the subset is associated with a differenttraffic transmission request resource and the different traffictransmission request resources are associated with different priorities.The resource selection module 736 selects the highest priority traffictransmission resource corresponding to a member of the subset fortransmission of the request. This selection also by virtue of thelinkage between transmission traffic request resources and connectionidentifiers also selects a connection identifier. Determined highestpriority resource 756 and selected connection identifier 758 are outputsof the resource selection module 736.

Traffic transmission request signal generation module 734 generates atraffic transmission request to another device, e.g., to a seconddevice. Generated traffic transmission request 762 is an output ofmodule 734. The generated traffic transmission request is communicatedusing the traffic transmission request resource, e.g., OFDM tone-symbol,identified by determined highest priority resource 756 and correspondingto selected connection identifier 758.

Request response monitoring module 738 monitors a transmission requestresponse resource to detect the reception of a transmission requestresponse signal, e.g., an RX echo signal, from the device to which therequest was transmitted. For example, corresponding to the requestresource which conveyed the traffic transmission request, there is acorresponding request response resource. If the device to which therequest was sent, e.g., the second device, acquiesces to the request itresponds by transmitting an RX echo signal using that request responseresource. However, if it des not acquiesce to the request then it doesnot transmit an RX echo signal. Received RX echo signal 764 is a signaldetected by request response monitoring module 738, e.g., signifyingthat the first wireless device 700 may proceed with the trafficsignaling.

Traffic data control module 740 controls the transmitter module 704 totransmit data to another device, e.g., the second device, during atraffic interval corresponding to a transmitted traffic request, e.g., atransmitted traffic request for which an RX echo signal was received.Generated traffic signal 766, e.g., a peer to peer traffic signalcommunicating user data such as text data, audio data and/or image data,is transmitted by wireless transmitter module 704 under the direction oftraffic data control module 740.

Connection identifier to transmission resource mapping module 742determines a mapping of transmission resources including transmissionrequest resources to connection identifiers as a function of time. Thusconnection identifier to transmission resource mapping module 742determines a mapping of transmission request resources to connectionidentifiers for a first time interval and for a second time interval,the first and second time intervals being different, and the mappingbetween request resources and connection identifiers changing betweenfirst and second time intervals. Connection identifier to transmissionresource mapping module 742 uses stored information associating traffictransmission resources with connection identifiers 782 andtiming/frequency structure information 768 in determining the mappings.

Connection ID broadcast interval information 774 identifies a timeinterval for which the connection identifier monitoring module 726operates. Connection ID handshaking interval information 776 identifiesan interval during which a connection availability signal and aconnection availability response signal are communicated. TXrequest/response interval information 778 identifies an interval duringwhich a transmission traffic request signal and an RX echo signal arecommunicated. Traffic interval information 780 identifies an intervalduring which a traffic signal, e.g., a peer to peer traffic signal, iscommunicated.

FIG. 8 is drawing illustrating various aspects of connection identifierassignment in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 8exemplary peer to peer wireless communications system 800 includes aplurality of peer to peer wireless terminals (WT 1 802, WT 2 804, WT 3806, WT 4 808, WT 5 810, WT 6 812, WT 7 814, WT 8 816, WT 9 818, WT 10820). The WTs of FIG. 8 are, e.g., WTs in accordance with WT 700 of FIG.7 and/or in accordance with the method of flowchart 300 of FIG. 3,flowchart 500 of FIG. 5 and/or flowchart 600 of FIG. 6. Activeconnections exist between four pairs of the wireless terminals.Connection 824 exists between WT 2 804 and WT 5 810, and the connectionis associated with one connection identifier, C₂. Connection 826 existsbetween WT 3 806 and WT 4 808, and the connection is associated with twoconnection identifiers, C₄ and C₆. Connection 822 exists between WT 7814 and WT 8 816, and the connection is associated with one connectionidentifier, C₁. Connection 828 exists between WT 9 818 and WT 10 820,and the connection is associated with one connection identifier, C₅.During a connection identifier broadcast interval, wireless terminalscorresponding to existing active connections broadcast their connectionidentifier information.

In this example, WT 1 802 and WT 6 812, which are aware of the presenceof each other, desire to establish a connection, which is represented bydotted line 830. Drawing 850 illustrates various operations performed toreach agreement on the connection identifier or identifiers to be usedfor the connection. Axis 851 illustrates time. During the connectionidentifier broadcast interval, both WT 1 802 and WT 6 812 have beenmonitoring, and identify detected connection identifiers. Since WT 1 andWT 6 are at different locations, they may detect different connectionidentifiers in use. In this embodiment, there are a set of 256 differentconnection identifiers which can assigned. WT 1 and WT 6 each form alist of unused connection identifiers from their perspective. Block 852indicates the WT 1 unused connection list is: C₃, C₅, and C₆-C₂₅₆. Block854 indicates the WT 6 unused connection list is: C₁, C₃, and C₆-C₂₅₆.In this example, WT 1 happens to initiate the connection request to WT6, forms a suggested connection list, generates a signal communicatingthe suggested list and quality of service information, and communicatesthe generated signal to WT 6. The quality of service information is usedto derive the number of connection identifiers to be assigned to theconnection. Block 856 indicates that the WT 1 suggested connection listis: C₃, C₅, C₆, C₇, C₈ and the QoS information indicates that WT 1 wouldlike 3 connection identifiers to be assigned. WT 6 receives the signalconveying the suggested list of connection identifiers to be used andquality of service information, and processes the received signal. WT 6selects three connection identifiers from the suggested list which arealso included in its unused connection list 854. WT 6 generates aresponse signal communicating the selected list of connectionidentifiers to be used for the connection, and transmits the signal toWT 1. Block 858 indicates the selected connection list includes C₃, C6and C₇. WT 1 receives the list of suggested connection identifiers.

WT 1 and WT 6 use the list of selected connection identifiers foroperations with their connection 830, e.g., identifying resources whichhave been allocated to connection such as transmission requestresources, corresponding transmission request response resources, andtraffic transmission resources for peer to peer traffic transmissionoperations. Those identified resources are used by WT 1 and WT 6 in thecommunication of peer to peer traffic signals.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 of an exemplary method of operating acommunications device, e.g., a peer to peer communications device, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Operation starts in step 902and proceeds to step 904. In step 904, the communications device storesinformation indicating: i) a correspondence between a set of identifiersand each of a plurality of traffic transmission resources which recurwith time, the same set of identifiers corresponding to each of saidplurality of traffic transmission resources; and ii) relative prioritiesof said identifiers with regard to individual traffic transmissionresources, said information indicating for an individual identifier avariation of priority over time. For example, the plurality of traffictransmission resources which recur with time is a plurality or orderedtraffic transmission segments in a recurring peer to peer timingstructure; corresponding to a given segment, each identifier within theset of identifiers has a different predetermined priority, and thepriority associated with a particular identifier is different for atleast some traffic transmission segments within the recurring structure.In some embodiments, the average priority provided to multiple differentindividual identifiers over time is substantially the same. Operationproceeds from step 904 to step 906.

In step 906 the communications device determines the number ofidentifiers to be acquired. Step 906 includes one or more of sub-steps908 and 910. In sub-step 908, the communications device determines thenumber of identifiers to be acquired as a function of current loadingconditions. In sub-step 910, the communications device determines thenumber of identifiers to be acquired as a function of the type oftraffic data to be transmitted. Operation proceeds from step 906 to step912.

In step 912 the communications device acquires the right to useidentifiers. At times step 912 includes sub-step 914 in which thecommunications device acquires the right to use multiple identifiers. Atdifferent points in time, the communications device may, and sometimesdoes, acquire different numbers of identifiers. In some embodiments, fora given amount of data to be transmitted more identifiers are acquiredduring periods of high traffic loading than during periods of lowtraffic loading, wherein the total amount of data transmitted in thelocal area during high traffic loading periods is greater than duringlow traffic loading periods. In some embodiments, for a given amount ofdata to be transmitted, more identifiers are acquired during periods ofmore stringent latency requirements than during periods of low latencyrequirements. Step 912 includes sub-step 916 in which the communicationsdevice determines a set of connection identifiers which correspond tothe communications device. Operation proceeds from step 912 to step 918.

In step 918, the communications device transmits a signal, e.g., acommunications request signal, corresponding to one or said connectionidentifiers corresponding to the communications device. Thecommunications request signal is, e.g., a request to communicate usingthe traffic transmission resource corresponding to a request resource onwhich the communications request signal was transmitted. In variousembodiments, the request resource is a resource dedicated to one of theconnection identifiers. For example, for an individual traffictransmission segment, each connection identifier has its own dedicatedrequest resource which it may use to transmit a traffic transmissionrequest signal.

Operation proceeds from step 918 to step 920, in which thecommunications device transmits a traffic segment signal using a traffictransmission resource corresponding to the transmitted signal. Operationproceeds from step 920 to step 922.

In step 922, the communications device acquires an additional identifierin response to an increase in traffic transmission needs, and then instep 924 the communications device updates the set of connectionidentifiers which are to correspond to the communications device.Operation proceeds from step 924 to step 926. In step 926, thecommunications device transmits a signal, e.g., a traffic transmissionrequest signal corresponding to one of said updated set of connectionidentifiers which are to correspond to the communications device.Operation proceeds from step 926 to step 928. In step 928, thecommunications device transmits a traffic segment signal using a traffictransmission resource corresponding to transmitted request signal ofstep 926. Operation proceeds from step 928 to step 930. In step 930, thecommunications device relinquishes the acquired additional identifier inresponse to a decrease in traffic transmission needs.

FIG. 10 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 1000 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary communications device1000, e.g., a mobile node supporting peer to peer communications,includes a wireless receiver module 1002, a wireless transmitter module1004, a processor 1006, user I/O devices 1008 and a memory 1010 coupledtogether via a bus 1012 over which the various elements may interchangedata and information. Memory 1010 includes routines 1018 anddata/information 1020. The processor 1006, e.g., a CPU, executes theroutines 1018 and uses the data/information 1020 in memory 1010 tocontrol the operation of the communications device 1000 and implementmethods, e.g., the method of flowchart 900 of FIG. 9 or the method offlowchart 1300 of FIG. 13.

Wireless receiver module 1002, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceive antenna 1014 via which the communications device 1000 receivessignals from other communications devices. Received signals include,e.g., traffic loading signals, connection identifier acquisitionhandshaking signals, communications request signals, communicationsrequest response signals, and traffic signals.

Wireless transmitter module 1004, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 1016 via which the communications device 1000transmits signals to other communications devices. In some embodiments,the same antenna is used for the transmitter and receiver. Transmittedsignals include, e.g., connection identifier acquisition handshakingsignals, communications request signals, communications request responsesignals, and traffic signals. Wireless transmitter module 1004 is fortransmitting a communications request signal corresponding to one of aset of connection identifiers, wherein said one of the set of connectionidentifiers currently corresponds to the communications device 1000. Thecommunications request signal is a request to communicate using thetraffic transmission resource corresponding to a request resource onwhich the communications request signal was transmitted. For example,consider that the communications device 1000 wants to transmit trafficsignals using the transmission segment identified by traffic segment 1resource information 1078, and that communications device 1000 currentlyhas acquired a set of connection identifiers including identifier 11066, communications device 1000 may send a communications requestsignal using the dedicated request segment identified by identifier 1request resource information 1070.

Routines 1018 includes communications routine 1022 and wireless terminalcontrol routines 1024. The communications routine 1022 implements thevarious communications protocols used by the communications device 1000.Wireless terminal control routines 1024 include a request signalgeneration module 1026, a request resource identification module 1028,an identifier acquisition module 1030, a traffic transmissionrequirement module 1038, a traffic loading module 1040, a trafficlatency module 1041, a traffic data type determination module 1042 and atraffic data signaling module 1043.

Data/information 1020 includes a plurality of traffic segmentinformation corresponding to a plurality of traffic segments in arecurring timing structure (traffic segment 1 information 1044, . . . ,traffic segment M information 1046), a generated communications requestsignal 1048, an identified request resource 1050, informationidentifying the connection identifier corresponding to the generatedcommunications request 1052, determined traffic transmission needs 1054,determined current traffic loading 1056, determined traffic data typeinformation 1058, determined latency information 1060, informationstoring the number of acquired identifiers 1062, and a list of theacquired identifiers 1064.

Traffic segment 1 information 1044 includes a set of identifiers(identifiers 1 1066, . . . , identifier n 1068), resource informationcorresponding to the identifiers (identifier 1 request resourceinformation 1070, . . . , identifier N request resource information1072), respectively, corresponding identifier priority information(identifier 1 priority information 1074, e.g., indicating priority 1, .. . , identifier n priority information 1076, e.g., indicating priorityn), respectively, and traffic segment 1 resource information 1078.Traffic segment M information 1046 includes the set of identifiers(identifiers 1 1066, . . . , identifier n 1068), resource informationcorresponding to the identifiers (identifier 1 request resourceinformation 1080, . . . , identifier N request resource information1082), respectively, corresponding identifier priority information(identifier 1 priority information 1084, e.g., indicating priority n, .. . , identifier n priority information 1086, e.g., indicating priority1), respectively, and traffic segment M resource information 1088. Itshould be noted that corresponding to an individual connectoridentifier, its priority is different corresponding to different trafficsegments. In this example, the average priority provided to multipledifferent individual identifiers over time is substantially the same.

Request signal generation module 1026 generates a communications requestsignal, e.g., signal 1048. The communications request signal 1048 is,e.g., a communications request to use a peer to peer traffic segment.Request resource identification module 1028 is for identifying therequest resource on which the communications request signal is to becommunicated. Identified request resource 1050 is an output of module1028. For example, consider that the request signal 1048 is a request touse the traffic segment identified by information 1078 and theconnection identifier selected to carry the request is identifier 11066, then request resource identifier module 1028 identifies that therequest resource, e.g., dedicated request segment, in the recurringtiming structure, to be used to carry the request is identified byinformation 1070. In this example, it may be observed that each requestresource is a resource dedicated to one of the set of connectionidentifiers, e.g., a dedicated request segment associated with aconnection identifier.

The identifier acquisition module 1030 includes an identifier counttracking module 1032, an identifier add-on module 1034 and an identifierrelinquishing module 1036. Identifier acquisition module 1030 is foracquiring the right of communications device 1000 to use connectionidentifiers, and the identifier acquisition module 1030 supportsacquiring the right to use multiple identifiers. The identifieracquisition module 1030 supports acquiring the right to use differentnumbers of identifiers at different points in time. Identifieracquisition is performed, in this embodiment, in a decentralized mannerwith device 1000 exchanging identifier acquisition handshaking signalswith a peer device with which it desires to establish a connection orhas an existing connection.

Identifier count tracking module 1032 tracks the number and designationof the acquired identifiers to be used by the communications device1000. Number of acquired identifiers 1062 and list of acquiredidentifiers 1064 are outputs of module 1032.

Traffic transmission requirement module 1038 is for determining thecommunication device's traffic transmission needs. Determined traffictransmission needs 1054 is an output of module 1038. The identifieracquisition module 1030 uses determined traffic needs information 1054as an input. In one example, the identifier add-on sub-module 1034acquires an additional identifier in response to an increase in traffictransmission needs. As another example, the identifier relinquishingmodule 1036 relinquishes an acquired identifier in response to adecrease in traffic transmission needs.

Traffic loading module 1040 determines current local traffic loading.Determined current traffic loading information 1056 is an output ofmodule 1040 which is used as an input by identifier acquisition module1030. In some embodiments, the identifier acquisition module 1030determines the number of identifiers to be acquired as a function of thecurrent local traffic loading. In various embodiments, the identifieracquisition module 1030 determines the number of identifier to beacquired or relinquished as a function of a change in local loadingconditions. In some embodiments, for a given amount of data to betransmitted by communications device 1000 more identifiers are acquiredduring periods of high traffic loading than during periods of lowtraffic loading, the total amount of data transmitted in the local areaduring high traffic loading periods being greater than during lowtraffic loading periods.

Traffic latency module 1041 determines latency information correspondingto anticipated traffic communications. Determined latency information1060 is an output of module 1041 and an input to identifier acquisitionmodule 1030. In some embodiments, for a given amount of data to betransmitted, more identifiers are acquired for use during periods ofanticipated more stringent latency requirements than for periods of lowlatency requirements.

Traffic data type determination module 1042 is for determining the typeof traffic data to be transmitted, e.g., voice traffic, interactivegaming traffic, live video and/or audio streaming traffic, timeinsensitive data file traffic, etc. Determined traffic data typeinformation 1058 is an output of module 1042 and an input to identifieracquisition module 1030. In various embodiments, the identifieracquisition module 1030 identifies the number of identifiers to beacquired as a function of the type of traffic data to be transmitted.

In some embodiments, the local traffic loading is determined byrecovering and processing a signal conveying loading information. Forexample, the loading signal is broadcast by an external node, e.g., afixed point node such as a base station in the vicinity to be used bycommunications devices in its vicinity. In another embodiment,communications device 1000 monitors signaling activity of other devicein its local vicinity, e.g., corresponding to other peer to peerconnections, and determines an estimate of current loading in its localvicinity.

Traffic data signaling module 1043 generates traffic signals, e.g., peerto peer traffic signals, and controls the wireless transmitter module1004 to transmit the generated traffic signals on the appropriatetraffic segment resource corresponding to the transmitted request signalwhich was preciously transmitted and for which an affirmativecommunications request response signal was received. Traffic datasignaling module 1043 also controls the receive module 1002 to receivetraffic signals on a traffic segment resource corresponding to areceived communications request for which it had previously transmitteda positive communications request response signal, and then recoverstraffic data from the receive signal, e.g., peer to peer traffic signalsintended for communications device 1000.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 of an exemplary method of operating acommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Thecommunications device is, e.g., a peer to peer communications devicewhich has, at times, multiple connection identifiers corresponding to asingle connection. Operation starts in initial step 1102, where thecommunications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step1104. In step 1104, the communications device acquires multipleconnection identifiers corresponding to a single connection. Then instep 1106 the communications device selects one of the multipleconnection identifiers to use at a point in time based on currenttraffic communications requirements of the communications device. Insome embodiments, selecting one of multiple connection identifiersincludes selecting the connection identifier based on the type oftraffic to be transmitted at a given point in time. In variousembodiments, selecting one of the multiple connection identifiersincludes selecting the connection identifier based on the type oftraffic to be transmitted at a give point in time. In some embodiments,a connection identifier having a lower priority is selected whennon-voice data is to be transmitted than when voice data is to betransmitted. In some embodiments, a connection identifier is randomlyselected when only non-voice data is to be transmitted. In someembodiments, a connection identifier having the highest priority isselected when voice data is to be transmitted. In some embodiments, alatency requirement is considered when selecting the one of saidmultiple connection identifiers. In some embodiments, when voice data isto be communicated but the latency requirement indicates that immediatetransmission is not required, a connection identifier having a lowerpriority than another connection identifier assigned to thecommunications device is selected.

Operation proceeds from step 1106 to step 1108. In step 1108 thecommunications device transmits a traffic transmission request using arequest resource corresponding to the selected connection identifier.

FIG. 12 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 1200, e.g., amobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. Communications device 1200 has, during some timeintervals, multiple connection identifiers corresponding to a singleconnection, the multiple connection identifiers having differenttransmission resource priorities. Exemplary communications device 1200includes a wireless receiver module 1202, a wireless transmitter module1204, a processor 1206, user I/O devices 1208 and a memory 1210 coupledtogether via a bus 1212 over which the various elements may interchangedata and information. Memory 1210 includes routines 1218 anddata/information 1220. The processor 1206, e.g., a CPU, executes theroutines 1218 and uses the data/information 1220 in memory 1210 tocontrol the operation of the communications device 1200 and implementmethods, e.g., the method of flowchart 1100 of FIG. 11.

Wireless receiver module 1202, e.g., an OFDM receiver, receives signalsfrom other communications devices. Received signals include, e.g.,handshaking signals used in acquiring a set of connection identifiers,traffic transmission request signals, traffic transmission requestresponse signals and traffic signals.

Wireless transmitter module 1204, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, transmitssignals to other communications devices. Transmitted signals include,e.g., handshake signaling using in acquiring a set of connectionidentifiers, traffic transmission request signals, traffic transmissionrequest response signals, and traffic signals.

User I/O devices 1208 include, e.g., a microphone, a keyboard, a keypad,switches, a camera, a speaker, a display, etc. User I/O device 1208allow a user of communications device 1200 to input data/information,access output data/information, and control at least some function ofthe communications device 1200.

Routines 1218 include a communications routine 1222 and wirelessterminal control routines 1224. The communications routine 1222implements the various communications protocols used by thecommunications device 1200. The wireless terminal control routines 1224include a connection identifier selection module 1226, a traffictransmission request generation module 1228, a request resourceidentification module 1230, a backlog tracking module 1231, a traffictype determination module 1232, a latency determination module 1233, anda traffic data signaling module 1234.

The connection identifier selection module 1226 includes a randomselection module 1234, a highest priority selection module 1236 and alower priority selection module 1238. At different times, a differenttype of the set of selection module (1234, 1236, 1238) is used toperform the selection for a particular traffic segment, e.g., due todifferent input conditions.

Data/information 1220 includes a plurality of sets of informationpertaining to traffic segments in a recurring timing structure (trafficsegment 1 information 1236, . . . , traffic segment K information 1238),a determined amount of traffic to be transmitted 1240, determined typeof traffic to be transmitted information 1242, determined latencyrequirements 1244, a list of acquired connection identifiers 1246, aselected connection identifier 1248, an identified request resource 1250and a generated traffic transmission request signal 1252.

Traffic segment 1 information 1236 includes a set of identifiers(identifiers 1 1254, . . . , identifier n 1256), resource informationcorresponding to the identifiers (identifier 1 request resourceinformation 1258, . . . , identifier n request resource information1260), respectively, corresponding identifier priority information(identifier 1 priority information 1262, . . . , identifier n priorityinformation 1264), respectively, and traffic segment 1 resourceinformation 1266. Traffic segment K information 1238 includes the set ofidentifiers (identifiers 1 1254, . . . , identifier n 1256), resourceinformation corresponding to the identifiers (identifier 1 requestresource information 1268, . . . , identifier n request resourceinformation 1270), respectively, corresponding identifier priorityinformation (identifier 1 priority information 1272, . . . , identifiern priority information 1086), respectively, and traffic segment Kresource information 1276. In some embodiments, the priority associatedwith a particular identifier changes between different segments. Forexample, the priority identified by information 1262 may be differentfrom the priority identified by information 1272, and the priorityidentified by information 1264 may be different from the priorityidentified by information 1274. In some such embodiments the averagepriority associated with each individual connection identifier issubstantially the same, e.g., for one iteration of the recurring timingstructure. Thus on a long term basis, in such an embodiment, no oneconnector identifier is favored over another connection identifier. Insome other embodiments the priority associated with a connectionidentifier remains the same over the traffic segments in the recurringtiming structure. For example, the priority indicated by information1262 is the same as the priority indicated by information 1272, and thepriority indicated by information 1264 is the same as the priorityindicated by information 1274.

List of acquired connection identifiers 1246 is a list of connectionidentifiers acquired by communications device 1200 to be usedcorresponding to same connection with another device, e.g., a list ofmultiple connection identifiers corresponding to the same peer to peerconnection with another communications device. In various embodiments,the list of acquired connection identifiers 1246 is acquired using aprotocol implementing decentralized control in which handshake signalingoccurs between communications device 1200 and the communications devicewith which the connection is established.

Connection identifier selection module 1226 selects a connectionidentifier to be used by communications device 1200, on a per trafficsegment basis, from among the maintained list of acquired connectionidentifiers 1246. Selected connection identifier 1248 represents theoutput of connection identifier selection module 1226 for one trafficsegment. Connection identifier selection module 1226 selects one ofmultiple connection identifiers to use at a point in time based oncurrent traffic communications requirements for communications device1200.

Traffic transmission request generation module 1228 generates a traffictransmission request, e.g., generated traffic transmission requestsignal 1252. Request resource identification module 1230 identifies arequest resource, e.g., a dedicated traffic transmission requestsegment, corresponding to a selected connection identifier. For example,consider that the communications device 1200's current list of acquiredconnection identifiers 1246 includes identifier 1 1254 and identifier n1256, that the communications device 1200 wants to transmit traffic intraffic segment 1 and that the connection identifier selection module1226 has selected to use connection identifier n 1256 to carry thetraffic transmission request signal and has stored its selection ininformation 1248. Then the request resource identification module 1230identifies the request resource indicated by information 1260 to be usedand stores information identifying that request resource as identifiedrequest resource information 1250. Wireless transmitter module 1204transmits the generated traffic transmission request signal 1252 usingthe identified request resource 1250 corresponding to the selectedconnection identifier 1248.

Backlog tracking module 1231 tracks the amount of traffic waiting in itsqueue to be transmitted over the connection. Determined amount oftraffic to be transmitted 1240, e.g., a bit count, a frame count, orpacket count, is an output of backlog tracking module 1231 and is usedas an input to connection identifier selection module 1226, which attimes, performs a connection identifier selection for a traffic segment,as a function of backlog information. In some embodiments, differentbacklog counts are maintained corresponding to different types oftraffic.

Traffic type determination module 1232 determines the type of traffic tobe transmitted at a given point in time. Determined type of traffic tobe transmitted 1242 is an output of module 1232 and is used as an inputby module 1226. The connection identifier selection module 1226, attimes, selects the connection identifier based on the type of traffic tobe transmitted at a given point in time. In various embodiments, thetraffic type determination module 1232 classifies traffic intocategories including non-voice data and voice data, and the connectionidentifier selection module 1226 selects a connection identifier fromthe list of acquired connection identifiers having a lower priority whennon-voice data is to be transmitted than when voice data is to betransmitted. In such an example, the connection identifier selectionmodule 1226 uses its lower priority selection module 1238 to make theselection.

In some embodiments, when the only non-voice data is to be transmitted,e.g., in the traffic segment of interest, then the connection identifieris selected randomly from among the list of acquired connectionidentifiers. In such an example, the random selection module 1234 ofconnection identifier selection module 1234 is used to make theselection.

In some embodiments, when voice data is to be transmitted, e.g., in thetraffic segment of interest, then the connection identifier having thehighest priority among the connection identifiers in the list ofacquired connection identifiers, is selected. In such a case, thehighest priority selection module 1236 of the connection identifierselection module 1226 makes the selection.

Latency determination module 1233 determines latency requirements forqueued traffic waiting to be transmitted and/or for traffic anticipatedto be transmitted. Determined latency requirements 1244 is an output ofmodule 1233 and an input for module 1226. In various embodiments, theconnection identifier selection module 1226 considers determined latencyrequirements 1244 when selecting one the multiple connection identifiersin the list of acquired connection identifiers 1246.

In some embodiments, when voice data is to be communicated in thetraffic segment of interest, but the latency requirements indicate thatimmediate transmission is not required, the connection identifierselection module 1226 uses the lower priority selection module 1238 toselect a connection identifier having a lower priority than anotherconnection identifier assigned to the communications device asidentified by information 1246. Thus in such a situation, by selecting alower priority connection identifier, the communications device 1200 isintentionally reducing its likelihood that it will be able to use thetraffic segment. However, it is increasing the likelihood that anotherconnection, e.g. a more urgent connection, may be able to use thetraffic segment.

Traffic data signaling module 1234 generates traffic signals, e.g., peerto peer traffic signals, and controls the wireless transmitter module1204 to transmit the generated traffic signals on the appropriatetraffic segment resource corresponding to the transmitted request signalwhich was preciously transmitted and for which an affirmativecommunications request response signal was received. Traffic datasignaling module 1234 also controls the receive module 1202 to receivetraffic signals on a traffic segment resource corresponding to areceived communications request for which it had previously transmitteda positive communications request response signal, and then recoverstraffic data from the receive signal, e.g., peer to peer traffic signalsintended for communications device 1200.

FIG. 13 comprising the combination of FIG. 13A, FIG. 13B and FIG. 13C,is a flowchart 1300 of an exemplary method of operating a communicationsdevice, e.g., a mobile wireless communications device supporting peer topeer communications, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Thecommunications device is, e.g., communications device 1000 of FIG. 10.Operation of the exemplary method starts in step 1302 and proceeds tostep 1304. In step 1304, the communications device stores informationindicating: i) a correspondence between a set of identifiers and each ofa plurality of traffic transmission resources which recur with time, thesame set of identifiers corresponding to each of said plurality oftraffic transmission resources; and ii) relative priorities of saididentifiers with regard to individual traffic transmission resources,said information indicating for an individual identifier a variation ofpriority over time. For example, the plurality of traffic transmissionresources which recur over time may be a plurality of indexed traffictransmission segments, e.g., peer to peer traffic transmission segments,in a timing/frequency structure. Continuing with the example, eachidentifier within the set of connection identifiers, for an individualtraffic transmission segment, may correspond to a dedicated requestresource for requesting to use the traffic transmission segment, and thedifferent connection identifiers in the set of connection identifiersmay be associated with different relative priorities. The priorityassociated with a single connection identifier may change from onetraffic segment to another in the recurring timing/frequency structure.In various embodiments, the average priority provided to multipledifferent individual connection identifiers over time is substantiallythe same. In some embodiments, step 1304 is performed as part of adevice configuration operation. In some embodiments, step 1304 isperformed as part of an initialization operation. Operation proceedsfrom step 1304 to: step 1306, step 1334 via connecting node A 1332, step1338 via connecting node B 1324, step 1342 via connecting node C 1326,step 1348 via connecting node D 1328, step 1352 via connecting node E1330, and step 1356 via connecting node F 1332.

In step 1334, which is performed on an ongoing basis, the communicationsdevice determines the type of traffic to be transmitted. Traffic typeinformation 1336 is an output of step 1336 which is used as an input tostep 1308. Traffic type information is, e.g., information identifyingtraffic as voice traffic or non-voice traffic, or informationidentifying traffic as delay sensitive traffic or delay insensitivetraffic.

In step 1338, which is performed on an ongoing basis, the communicationsdevice monitors for, receives and recovers loading information.Communicated loading information 1340 is an output of step 1338 which isused as an input to step 1308. In some embodiments, the loadinginformation is communicated from a system node, e.g., fixed point nodesuch as a base station. In some embodiments, the communicated loadinginformation is an indicator signal indicating a level of traffic loadingin the local region, e.g., one of a plurality of predetermined loadinglevels. In some embodiments, a loading information signal is onlytransmitted when loading exceeds a predetermined level. In someembodiments, a loading information signal is only transmitted whenloading is below a predetermined level.

In step 1342 the communications device monitors signaling correspondingto other connections, e.g., peer to peer traffic signaling correspondingto other connections. Then in step 1344 the communications devicedetermines loading information based on the detected monitoredsignaling. Determined loading information 1346, e.g., an estimate offuture traffic transmission resource loading based on prior traffictransmission resource usage, is an output of step 1344 and an input tostep 1308. Steps 1342 and 1344 are performed on an ongoing basis.

In various embodiments, for a given amount of data to be transmittedmore identifiers are acquired during periods of high traffic loadingthan during periods of low traffic loading, the total amount of trafficto be transmitted in the local area during high traffic loading periodsbeing greater than during low traffic loading periods.

In step 1348, which is performed on an ongoing basis, the communicationsdevice determines traffic transmission needs. Traffic transmission needsinformation 1350, e.g., information indicating an amount, e.g., numberof frames or number of packets, of traffic waiting to be transmitted, isan output of step 1348 and an input to step 1308. At times, thecommunications device acquires an additional connection identifier inresponse to an increase in traffic transmission needs. At other times,the communications device relinquishes an acquired additional connectionidentifier in response to a decrease in traffic transmission needs.

In step 1352, which is performed on an ongoing basis, the communicationsdevice determines traffic latency information. Determined latencyinformation 1354, e.g., information indicating how long delay sensitivetraffic to be transmitted has been sitting in a transmission queueand/or information indicating time remaining to discard for delaysensitive traffic waiting to be transmitted. Determined latencyinformation 1354 is an output of step 1352 and an input to step 1308. Insome embodiments, for a given amount of data to be transmitted, moreidentifiers are acquired during periods of more stringent latencyrequirements than during periods of low latency requirements.

Returning to step 1306, in step 1306 the communications device checks ifthe current time corresponds to an opportunity in the recurring timingstructure for the communications device to acquire connectionidentifiers. If the current time does not correspond to such anopportunity operation returns to the input of step 1306. However, if thecurrent time does correspond to an opportunity for acquiring connectionidentifiers, then operation proceeds from step 1306 to step 1308.

In step 1308, the communications device determines the number ofconnection identifiers that the communications device desires to holdcorresponding to a connection. Traffic type information 1336,communicated loading information 1340, determined loading information1346, traffic transmission needs 1350, and latency information 1352 areinputs to the determination of step 1308. Operation proceeds from step1308 to step 1310 and step 1312. In step 1310 the communications devicedetermines the number of currently held connection identifiers to berelinquished. If any of the currently held connection identifiers are tobe relinquished, then step 1314 is performed in which the communicationsdevice relinquishes the determined number of connection identifiers fromstep 1310. In step 1312, the communications device determines the numberof additional connection identifiers to be acquired. If at least oneadditional connection identifier is to be acquired, then operationproceeds to step 1316. In step 1316, the communications device performshandshake signaling attempting to acquire the determined number ofaddition connection identifies, and in step 1318 the communicationsdevice acquires additional connection identifiers. Operation proceedsfrom steps 1314 and 1318 to step 1320, in which the communicationsdevice updates a list of currently held connection identifiers.Operation proceeds from step 1320 to the input of step 1306.

Returning to step 1356, in step 1356 the communications devicedetermines whether the current time corresponds to a traffictransmission segment scheduling opportunity. If the current time doesnot correspond to a scheduling opportunity, then operation proceeds backto the input of step 1356. However, if the current time corresponds to atraffic transmission segment scheduling opportunity then operationproceeds from step 1356 to step 1358.

In step 1358 the communications device considers whether it holds atleast connection identifier and has traffic to transmit. If thecommunications device holds at least one connection identifier and hastraffic to transmit then operation proceeds from step 1358 to step 1360;otherwise operation proceeds from step 1358 to the input of step 1356.

Returning to step 1360, in step 1360 the communications device selects aconnection identifier from the set of currently held connectionidentifiers corresponding to the connection. Then, in step 1362 thecommunications device transmits a signals, e.g., a traffic transmissionrequest signal corresponding to the selected connection identifier. Adedicated request segment, dedicated to the selected connectionidentifier, is used to transmit the request signal. Operation proceedsfrom step 1362 to step 1364 in which the communications device monitorsfor a traffic transmission request response signal. Operation proceedsfrom step 1364 to step 1366. In step 1366 the communications devicedetermines whether or not it has detected a traffic transmission requestresponse signal in response to the transmitted request of step 1362. Ifa traffic transmission request response signal was not detected, thenoperation proceeds to the input of step 1356. However, if a traffictransmission request response signal was detected, representing agranting of the request, then operation proceeds from step 1366 to step1368. In step 1368, the communications device generates a trafficsignal, and in step 1370 the communications device transmits thegenerated traffic signal on a traffic transmission resource, e.g., atraffic segment, corresponding to the resource used to the transmit therequest signal, e.g., corresponding to a dedicated request segment usedto convey the traffic transmission request. Operation proceeds from step1370 to the input of step 1356. A dedicated request segment is dedicatedto the selected connection identifier, is used to transmit the requestsignal.

In some embodiments, the recurring timing structure is such thatopportunities for acquiring identifiers are spaced at wider intervalsthan traffic transmission segment scheduling opportunities. In someembodiments, the recurring timing structure is such that in oneiteration of the recurring timing structure, there are more individualtraffic transmission segments for which the communications device canrequest usage than there are opportunities for requesting acquisition ofconnection identifiers. Thus in some embodiments, the communicationsdevice maintains and holds an acquired set of connection identifierscorresponding to a single connection, e.g., a single peer to peerconnection, for the duration of multiple traffic transmission segmentscheduling opportunities.

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring peer to peertiming structure used in some embodiments. The exemplary structure ofFIG. 14 is used, e.g., in a method in accordance with flowchart 900 ofFIG. 9, flowchart 1100 of FIG. 11, or flowchart 1300 of FIG. 13, or in acommunications device 1000 of FIG. 10 or communications device 1200 ofFIG. 12. FIG. 14 includes an air link resources' frequency vs time plot1400. Plot 1400 includes a vertical axis 1402 representing frequency,e.g., OFDM tones, and a horizontal axis 1404 representing time, e.g.,OFDM symbol transmission time intervals in a recurring timing structure.Legend 1406 identifies that: blocks of type 1408 with vertical lineshading represent air link resources used for acquiring connectionidentifiers; blocks of type 1410 with horizontal line shading representair link resources for carrying traffic transmission request signals;and blocks of type 1412 with crosshatch shading represent peer to peertraffic segments.

Each air link resource for acquiring connection identifiers of type 1408is associated with a plurality of successive air link resources of type1410 for carrying traffic transmission requests. Each air link resourcefor carrying traffic transmission requests of type 1410 is associatedwith a corresponding peer to peer traffic segment of type 1412. A peerto peer connection between two wireless terminals may acquire one ormore connection identifiers during a connection identifier acquisitioninterval and hold a fixed set of acquired connection identifiers untilthe next connection identifier acquisition interval. A connection maybe, and sometimes is, associated with multiple connection identifiersconcurrently. When multiple requests to use the same traffic segmentoccur and concurrent use of the same segment is expected to result inunacceptable interference, priority information is used in determiningwhich connection is allowed to use the traffic transmission segment,with the traffic segment under contention going to the requestingconnection having a connection identifier associated with the highestpriority from among those in contention.

In this example, each air link resource for carrying traffictransmission requests of type 1410 is partitioned into a plurality ofindividual dedicated resources, each individual resource having a uniquepriority level and being associated with one connection identifier.Information 1414 identifies the priorities associated with 16 dedicatedresources corresponding to a first resource of type 1410, whileinformation 1416 identifies the priorities associated with 16 dedicatedresources corresponding to a second resource of type 1410. Information1418 identifies the connection identifiers associated with the 16dedicated resources corresponding to the first resource of type 1410,while information 1420 identifies the connection identifiers associatedwith the 16 dedicated resources corresponding to the second resource oftype 1410. In this example it may observed that the priority associatedwith an individual connection identifier changes over time. In oneembodiment, each of the different connection identifiers hassubstantially the same average priority over an iteration of therecurring timing structure.

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring peer to peertiming structure used in some embodiments. The exemplary structure ofFIG. 15 is used, e.g., in a method in accordance with flowchart 1100 ofFIG. 11 or communications device 1200 of FIG. 12. FIG. 15 includes anair link resources' frequency vs time plot 1500. Plot 1500 includes avertical axis 1502 representing frequency, e.g., OFDM tones, and ahorizontal axis 1504 representing time, e.g., OFDM symbol transmissiontime intervals in a recurring timing structure. Legend 1506 identifiesthat: blocks of type 1508 with vertical line shading represent air linkresources used for acquiring connection identifiers; blocks of type 1510with horizontal line shading represent air link resources for carryingtraffic transmission request signals; and blocks of type 1512 withcrosshatch shading represent peer to peer traffic segments.

Each air link resource for acquiring connection identifiers of type 1508is associated with a plurality of successive air link resources of type1510 for carrying traffic transmission requests. Each air link resourcefor carrying traffic transmission requests of type 1510 is associatedwith a corresponding peer to peer traffic segment of type 1512. A peerto peer connection between two wireless terminals may acquire one ormore connection identifiers during a connection identifier acquisitioninterval and hold a fixed set of acquired connection identifiers untilthe next connection identifier acquisition interval. A connection maybe, and sometimes is, associated with multiple connection identifiersconcurrently. When multiple requests to use the same traffic segmentoccur and concurrent use of the same segment is expected to result inunacceptable interference, priority information is used in determiningwhich connection is allowed to use the traffic transmission segment,with the traffic segment under contention going to the requestingconnection having a connection identifier associated with the highestpriority from among those in contention.

In this example, each air link resource for carrying traffictransmission requests of type 1510 is partitioned into a plurality ofindividual dedicated resources, each individual resource having a uniquepriority level and being associated with one connection identifier.Information 1514 identifies the priorities associated with 16 dedicatedresources corresponding to a first resource of type 1510, whileinformation 1516 identifies the priorities associated with 16 dedicatedresources corresponding to a second resource of type 1510. Information1518 identifies the connection identifiers associated with the 16dedicated resources corresponding to the first resource of type 1510,while information 1520 identifies the connection identifiers associatedwith the 16 dedicated resources corresponding to the second resource oftype 1510. In this example, it may be observed that the priorityassociated with a particular connection identifier remains the same.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary recurring peer to peertiming structure used in some embodiments. The exemplary structure ofFIG. 16 is used, e.g., in a method in accordance with flowchart 1100 ofFIG. 11 or communications device 1200 of FIG. 12. FIG. 16 includes anair link resources' frequency vs time plot 1600. Plot 1600 includes avertical axis 1602 representing frequency, e.g., OFDM tones, and ahorizontal axis 1604 representing time, e.g., OFDM symbol transmissiontime intervals in a recurring timing structure. Legend 1606 identifiesthat: blocks of type 1608 with vertical line shading represent air linkresources used for acquiring connection identifiers; blocks of type 1610with horizontal line shading represent air link resources for carryingtraffic transmission request signals; and blocks of type 1612 withcrosshatch shading represent peer to peer traffic segments.

Each air link resource for acquiring connection identifiers of type 1608is associated with a plurality of successive air link resources of type1610 for carrying traffic transmission requests. Each air link resourcefor carrying traffic transmission requests of type 1610 is associatedwith a corresponding peer to peer traffic segment of type 1612. A peerto peer connection between two wireless terminals may acquire one ormore connection identifiers during a connection identifier acquisitioninterval and hold a fixed set of acquired connection identifiers untilthe next connection identifier acquisition interval. A connection maybe, and sometimes is, associated with multiple connection identifiersconcurrently. When multiple requests to use the same traffic segmentoccur and concurrent use of the same segment is expected to result inunacceptable interference, priority information is used in determiningwhich connection is allowed to use the traffic transmission segment,with the traffic segment under contention going to the requestingconnection having a connection identifier associated with the highestpriority from among those in contention.

In this example, each air link resource for carrying traffictransmission requests of type 1610 is partitioned into a plurality ofindividual dedicated resources, each individual resource having a uniquepriority level and being associated with one connection identifier.Information 1614 identifies the priorities associated with 16 dedicatedresources corresponding to a first resource of type 1610, whileinformation 1616 identifies the priorities associated with 16 dedicatedresources corresponding to a second resource of type 1610. Information1618 identifies the connection identifiers associated with the 16dedicated resources corresponding to the first resource of type 1610,while information 1620 identifies the connection identifiers associatedwith the 16 dedicated resources corresponding to the second resource oftype 1610. In this example, it may be observed that the priorityassociated with a particular connection identifier remains the same;however, the particular dedicated resource, e.g., OFDM tone-symbol,associated with the connection identifier, changes from one requestresource block to the next.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., mobile nodes such as mobileterminals, base stations, communications system. Various embodiments arealso directed to methods, e.g., method of controlling and/or operatingmobile nodes, base stations and/or communications systems, e.g., hosts.Various embodiments are also directed to machine, e.g., computer,readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., which includemachine readable instructions for controlling a machine to implement oneor more steps of a method.

In various embodiments nodes described herein are implemented using oneor more modules to perform the steps corresponding to one or moremethods, for example, storing, determining, acquiring, requesting,selecting, signal processing, a decision step, message generation,message signaling, switching, reception and/or transmission steps. Thus,in some embodiments various features are implemented using modules. Suchmodules may be implemented using software, hardware or a combination ofsoftware and hardware. Many of the above described methods or methodsteps can be implemented using machine executable instructions, such assoftware, included in a machine readable medium such as a memory device,e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control a machine, e.g., general purposecomputer with or without additional hardware, to implement all orportions of the above described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes.Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to amachine-readable medium including machine executable instructions forcausing a machine, e.g., processor and associated hardware, to performone or more of the steps of the above-described method(s). Someembodiments are directed to a device, e.g., communications device,including a processor configured to implement one, multiple or all ofthe steps of one or more methods of the invention.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications devices such as wireless terminalsare configured to perform the steps of the methods described as being asbeing performed by the communications device. Accordingly, some but notall embodiments are directed to a device, e.g., communications device,with a processor which includes a module corresponding to each of thesteps of the various described methods performed by the device in whichthe processor is included. In some but not all embodiments a device,e.g., communications device, includes a module corresponding to each ofthe steps of the various described methods performed by the device inwhich the processor is included. The modules may be implemented usingsoftware and/or hardware.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, ormultiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on theembodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does,include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computerprogram product may, and sometimes does, include code for eachindividual step of a method, e.g., a method of controlling acommunications device or node. The code may be in the form of machine,e.g., computer, executable instructions stored on a computer-readablemedium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) orother type of storage device. In addition to being directed to acomputer program product, some embodiments are directed to a processorconfigured to implement one or more of the various functions, steps,acts and/or operations of one or more methods described above.Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU,configured to implement some or all of the steps of the methodsdescribed herein. The processor may be for use in, e.g., acommunications device or other device described in the presentapplication.

While described in the context of an OFDM system, at least some of themethods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a widerange of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/ornon-cellular systems.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. The methods and apparatus may be, and invarious embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications linksbetween access nodes and mobile nodes. In some embodiments the accessnodes are implemented as base stations which establish communicationslinks with mobile nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA. In various embodimentsthe mobile nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal dataassistants (PDAs), or other portable devices includingreceiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, forimplementing the methods.

1. A method of operating a communications device having multipleconnection identifiers corresponding to a single connection, saidmultiple connection identifiers having different transmission resourcepriorities, the method comprising: selecting one of said multipleconnection identifiers to use at a point in time based on currenttraffic communications requirements of said communications device; andtransmitting a traffic transmission request using a request resourcecorresponding to the selected connection identifier.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein selecting one of said multiple connection identifiersincludes selecting the connection identifier based on the type oftraffic to be transmitted at a given point in time.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein a connection identifier having a lower priority isselected when non-voice data is to be transmitted than when voice datais to be transmitted.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein a connectionidentifier is randomly selected when only non-voice data is to betransmitted.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein a connection identifierhaving the highest priority is selected when voice data is to betransmitted.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein a latency requirement isconsidered when selecting one of said multiple connection identifiers.7. The method of claim 6, wherein voice is to be communicated but thelatency requirement indicates that immediate transmission is notrequired, a connection identifier having a lower priority than anotherconnection identifier assigned to the communications device is selected.8. A communications device supporting having multiple connectionidentifiers corresponding to a single connection, said multipleconnection identifiers having different transmission resourcepriorities, the communications device comprising: a connectionidentifier selection module for selecting one of said multipleconnection identifiers to use at a point in time based on currenttraffic communications requirements of said communications device; and awireless transmitter module for transmitting a generated traffictransmission request using an identified request resource correspondingto the selected connection identifier.
 9. The communications device ofclaim 8, further comprising: a traffic transmission request generationmodule for generating said generated traffic transmission request; and arequest resource identification module for identifying said identifiedrequest resource corresponding to the selected connection identifier.10. The communications device of claim 9, further comprising: a traffictype determination module for determining the type of traffic to betransmitted at a given point in time; and wherein said connectionidentifier selection module selects the connection identifier based onthe type of traffic to be transmitted at a given point in time.
 11. Thecommunications device of claim 10, wherein said traffic typedetermination module classifies traffic into categories includingnon-voice data and voice data and wherein the connection identifierselection module selects a connection identifier having a lower prioritywhen non-voice data is to be transmitted than when voice data is to betransmitted.
 12. The communications device of claim 10, wherein saidconnection identifier selection module includes a random selectionmodule and wherein a connection identifier is randomly selected by saidrandom selection module when only non-voice data is to be transmitted.13. The communications device of claim 10, wherein said connectionidentifier selection module includes a highest priority selection moduleand wherein a connection identifier having the highest priority isselected by said highest priority selection module when voice data is tobe transmitted.
 14. The communications device of claim 10, furthercomprising: a latency determination module for determining latencyrequirements and wherein said connection identifier selection moduleconsiders determined latency requirements when selecting one of saidmultiple connection identifiers.
 15. The communications device of claim12, wherein said connection identifier selection module includes lowerpriority selection module for selecting a connection identifiercorresponding which does not have the highest priority among themultiple connection identifiers, and wherein when voice is to becommunicated but the latency requirement indicates that immediatetransmission is not required, the lower priority selection moduleselects a connection identifier having a lower priority than anotherconnection identifier assigned to the communications device is selected.16. A communications device supporting having multiple connectionidentifiers corresponding to a single connection, said multipleconnection identifiers having different transmission resourcepriorities, the communications device comprising: connection identifierselection means for selecting one of said multiple connectionidentifiers to use at a point in time based on current trafficcommunications requirements of said communications device and wirelesstransmitter means for transmitting a generated traffic transmissionrequest using an identified request resource corresponding to theselected connection identifier.
 17. The communications device of claim16, further comprising: traffic transmission request generation meansfor generating said generated traffic transmission request; and requestresource identification means for identifying said identified requestresource corresponding to the selected connection identifier.
 18. Thecommunications device of claim 17, further comprising: traffic typedetermination means for determining the type of traffic to betransmitted at a given point in time; and wherein said connectionidentifier selection means selects the connection identifier based onthe type of traffic to be transmitted at a given point in time.
 19. Thecommunications device of claim 18, wherein said traffic typedetermination means classifies traffic into categories includingnon-voice data and voice data and wherein the connection identifierselection means selects a connection identifier having a lower prioritywhen non-voice data is to be transmitted than when voice data is to betransmitted.
 20. The communications device of claim 18, wherein saidconnection identifier selection means includes random selection meansand wherein a connection identifier is randomly selected by said randomselection means when only non-voice data is to be transmitted.
 21. Acomputer program product for use in controlling a communications device,the communications device having multiple connection identifierscorresponding to a single connection, said multiple connectionidentifiers having different transmission resource priorities, thecomputer program product, comprising: computer-readable mediumcomprising: code for causing a computer to select one of said multipleconnection identifiers to use at a point in time based on currenttraffic communications requirements of said communications device; andcode for causing a computer to transmit a traffic transmission requestusing a request resource corresponding to the selected connectionidentifier.
 22. The computer program product of claim 21, whereincausing a computer to select one of said multiple connection identifiersincludes causing a computer to select the connection identifier based onthe type of traffic to be transmitted at a given point in time.
 23. Thecomputer program product of claim 22, wherein a connection identifierhaving a lower priority is selected when non-voice data is to betransmitted than when voice data is to be transmitted.
 24. The computerprogram product of claim 22, wherein a connection identifier is randomlyselected when only non-voice data is to be transmitted.
 25. An apparatuscomprising: a processor configured to control a communications device,the communications device having multiple connection identifierscorresponding to a single connection, said multiple connectionidentifiers having different transmission resource priorities, to:select one of said multiple connection identifiers to use at a point intime based on current traffic communications requirements of saidcommunications device; and transmit a traffic transmission request usinga request resource corresponding to the selected connection identifier.26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein selecting one of said multipleconnection identifiers includes selecting the connection identifierbased on the type of traffic to be transmitted at a given point in time.27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a connection identifier having alower priority is selected when non-voice data is to be transmitted thanwhen voice data is to be transmitted.
 28. The apparatus of claim 26,wherein a connection identifier is randomly selected when only non-voicedata is to be transmitted.